St Jerome figure in alabaster, Trapani c. 1750

Superb statuette of St. Jerome the Penitent, dressed in his cardinal's red mantle, sculpted in pink alabaster and painted.

In ancient painting, we find numerous representations of the translator of the Bible as an emaciated old man, half-dressed in a red garment with elaborate drapery, in the pose of a penitent, or receiving a vision. For example, El Greco's depiction in the National Gallery or Jusepe de Ribera's depiction at El Escorial or Capodimonte, in the particularly Baroque scene of the apparition of the angel of the Last Judgment.

St. Jerome often carries a crucifix, which he contemplates. This was likely the case for our statuette, whose left hand seems designed to hold a small wooden or metal crucifix.

The quality of the sculpture of our statuette and its skillful drapery are comparable to the workshop of the sculptors Alberto and Andrea Tipa active in Trapani in Sicily in the middle of the 18th century, in the sculpture of ivory, coral and alabaster.

Beautiful condition, ancient restored break in the middle.